A South Korean Court Rejects Request to Extend Impeached President’s Detention
A Seoul court on Friday rejected a request from the prosecutors’ office to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is being investigated over a criminal case involving a short-lived martial law declaration.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) transferred the case to the prosecutors’ office on Thursday, requesting that Yoon be indicted for insurrection and abuse of power. Yoon has been incarcerated since last week while the investigation continues.
The CIO had planned to end Yoon’s detention on January 28, but prosecutors would likely ask the court to extend it for another 10 days before formally charging him. However, the Seoul Central District Court denied the request, citing a lack of substantial reasons for the continued investigation.
Yoon’s lawyers have consistently argued that the CIO has no authority to handle his case, as the law does not mention insurrection in its list of violations. They also claim that any criminal investigation should be conducted after the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove Yoon from office in a separate trial.
In a statement, Yoon’s lawyers welcomed the court’s decision, describing the CIO’s probe as illegal and urging the prosecutors to restart the investigation.